After listening to the numerous interviews, I learned a lot about people in the Depression. It was interesting to get insight on how their everyday lives went and the jobs they worked in. A significant piece of information I can conclude from all of the interviews was that people back then worked hard and made an honest living despite unsafe, degrading, and unfair working conditions. They had outstanding work ethics compared to the average person today, who considers sitting at a computer desk hard work. I was shocked to learn that in some ocupations it wasn't suprising if someone died on a day to day basis, the workers knew it was possible for them to be one of them, yet not working was not an option. Jobs working in stonesheds(http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/garavel.html) were a common place to find this happening. I also learned that their pastimes back then were very different, women would fill their time with sewing parties(http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/mayme.html). Those were the lucky ones, while others had to rent out their homes and worry about money troubles if their husband were to leave them. These women resorted to what they used to call "rent-parties" (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/bernice.html), at these parties you were charged money to attend and at the end of the night you would hope you had gathered enough to cover your rent. Overall the people in the Depression strike me as relentless, hardworking, dedicated people; who were not afraid to do what they had to to make a living.
Reading and listening to these interviews taught me many things about life during the Great Depression. People had to risk illness, injury, and even death to make a living. The riskier the job, however, the more you were paid, explains Mr. Garavelli, who says, “I ain't got no money, but I ain't got no silica either.” http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/garavel.html . Not only were the men working, but women also had to step up to support themselves and their families. Mrs. Elizabeth Miller explains how on one occasion she had to bring in a five hundred and fifty pound hog into the house by herself, because her husband didn’t return as expected and she couldn’t sit there and let the meat freeze. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/eliza.html . Some women, however, did get the luxury of parties. Women would get together for quilting parties, taking turns hosting until the quilt was finished. The quilt could then be entered in a county fair. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/mayme.html . Some people, however, had to throw parties just to survive. Rent parties were thrown at houses, and a fee was charged to get in. People such as Bernice, whose husband had left her with an expensive apartment and no job, threw these parties to cover her rent. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/bernice.html . In those times, people would do anything to earn money. Vendors desperately tried to beat out competition, just as Clyde “kingfish” Smith did by singing while he was out in the streets to attract business. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/clyde.html . Unfortunately, during this time, some people turned to criminal acts to acquire what they needed. Others were disgraced by these acts, and clearly tried to separate themselves as someone above those acts, just as a man said in his interview, “I’m in New York, but New York ain’t in me!” http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/manbar.html While people today sit in their comfortable chairs, they forget the luxuries that they take for granted everyday. Luxuries that people of the Great Depression worked endlessy for, risking themselves everyday in hard times with strength and tenacity that many people today lose sight of.
Reading and listening to these interviews taught me many things about life during the Great Depression. People had to risk illness, injury, and even death to make a living. The riskier the job, however, the more you were paid, explains Mr. Garavelli, who says, “I ain't got no money, but I ain't got no silica either.” http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/garavel.html . Not only were the men working, but women also had to step up to support themselves and their families. Mrs. Elizabeth Miller explains how on one occasion she had to bring in a five hundred and fifty pound hog into the house by herself, because her husband didn’t return as expected and she couldn’t sit there and let the meat freeze. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/eliza.html . Some women, however, did get the luxury of parties. Women would get together for quilting parties, taking turns hosting until the quilt was finished. The quilt could then be entered in a county fair. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/mayme.html . Some people, however, had to throw parties just to survive. Rent parties were thrown at houses, and a fee was charged to get in. People such as Bernice, whose husband had left her with an expensive apartment and no job, threw these parties to cover her rent. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/bernice.html . In those times, people would do anything to earn money. Vendors desperately tried to beat out competition, just as Clyde “kingfish” Smith did by singing while he was out in the streets to attract business. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/clyde.html . Unfortunately, during this time, some people turned to criminal acts to acquire what they needed. Others were disgraced by these acts, and clearly tried to separate themselves as someone above those acts, just as a man said in his interview, “I’m in New York, but New York ain’t in me!” http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/manbar.html While people today sit in their comfortable chairs, they forget the luxuries that they take for granted everyday. Luxuries that people of the Great Depression worked endlessy for, risking themselves everyday in hard times with strength and tenacity that many people today lose sight of.